Means for facilitating the laying of masonry units



Feb. 12, 1952 P. H. SOMMERS MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE LAYING OF MASONRY UNITS 2 SHEETS-Sl-1EET 1 Filed May 15, 1949 INVENTOR. Paul E Somme/1s BY I Mm Feb. 12, 1952 r P. H. SOMMERS 5, 83 MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE LAYING OF MASONRY UNITS Filed May 13, 1949 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-IEET 2 P Jig? v INVENTOR. Paul E bmmens' Patented Feb. 12, 1952 OFFICE MEANS FOR FACILITATING THE LAYING F MASONRY UNITS Paul Summers, Montgomery, Ala.

A plication May 13, 1949, serial N0. 93,078

14 Claims. (Cl. 33-85) My invention relates to the .art of masonry and is more particularly concerned with that phase of the art which has to do with laying bricks, build ing blocks and the like, which are herein termed masonry units, into a wall. For the purpose of exemplification, and not by way of limitation, I shall describe the laying of bricks as typical masonry units.

The laying of bricks into a wall involves the repetitious problem of getting each brick in proper position in three dimensions. The disposal of the mortar between bricks involves a problem of control of volumetric displacement. In brief, the layer of mortar must be of proper thickness to support the brick at the proper level. The bricks must be spaced properly end- Wise and sidewise of the wall, and the exposed faces must be in alignment horizontally and vertically.

I have conceived the possibility of providing a simple means in the form of a portable tool which would remove from certain of the operations the skill of the artisan and allow the same to be performed by the laborer. In other words, my concept is to transfer certain of the skills into a mechanical aid, so that certain operations in bricklaying no longer require the skill and judgment of the highly paid artisan, but may, with the assistance of the device of my invention, be performed by one who does not possess all of such skill and judgment.

The value, in terms of lower cost, of the achievement of that objective is obvious. A lower skilled and lower priced workman can do the work, and alternatively a greater output by a highly skilled high priced workman is possible.

The aforesaid transfer of skill to the machine or device may be in varying degree, that is to say, I conceive that by variations in the .(jlfgaliiiv zation of structure of the mechanical aid provided, a greater or less number of the total operations entering into the laying of bricksi lllo a wall may be reduced to the grade of unskilled performance. Also, I have conceived that, instead of performing the standard skilled operations, a revision of certain'of those operations" to submit them to the guidance of the machine or device maybe advantageously made, and in certain cases the machine or device may require new operations to be performed because Iof its u'se, but in each case, and with each .deviceIof my invention which serves the purpose, the sum ofall operations still involves fewer skilled operations than are required without the machine vor device.

The present application is addressed to the generic invention disclosed herein andin my copending application, Serial Number 95,126, in which latter application a definite species is claimed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of simple structure through the use of which certain of the operations are guided to the extent of reducing the difficulties of the overall performance of bricklaying, and therebywidening the performance of bricklaying and reducing the cost of the same.

. The essential concept of means for attaining said object involves a conveniently movableguid ing; member or face plate supported in definite relationto a shiftable base of reference which will indicate and guide proper alignment vertically and horizontally of at least the bricks in the outer face of the wall, and at the same time indicate the proper level of each brick in the course of bricks being currently laid. With so much of the skill provided by the machine, the layingof additional bricks in the course is easily related to and guided by the bricks which have or have had the specific guidance of the machine.

By the addition of a similar guiding plate along the inner face of the wall, the bricks next to said latter plate may likewise be guided both as to alignment of the exposed faces and disposition of their upper faces in the proper horizontal plane to align with the other bricks being laid in the course under construction.

By the use of the two face plates at front and rear, the Spreading of a layer ofmortar between courses may be facilitated and predetermined.

By'the addition of vertical beads on an inner face of a face plate, such, for example, as the front face plate, the endwise' spacing in the course of the bricks laidn'eX-t to said face plate may be controlled, so that the vertical joints are of uniform thickness. This may also be done on the rear face plate. Such beads do not interfere with the lifting of the device from the bricks laid in the course under construction. They serve as a convenient means for locating the device in the next advanced position, with the beads in register with grooves in the vertical joints of bricks already laid in the course under construction, so that uniform spacing of the vertical joints may continue.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a device embodying the present invention, I .shall describe, in connection with the accomedge, as indicated at 5, and having its lower edge flanged at 6 to extend diagonally downwardly and outwardly from the inside or working face which is formed by the inside surface of the vertically disposed web of the face plate 4.

At the advance end of the face plate 4, a transverse reach member 1 is connected to the face plate and projects from the working face thereof. The member I has a horizontally disposed strap or body portion 8'which is adapted to rest upon the tops of the bricks of the course I. The horizontal portion 8 has a vertical leg 9 which is attion taken on the same general line as that of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the ad vance end of a modified form of my invention employing vertical beads viewed from the leftof Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 to'illustrate the form of the vertical bead for spacingthe bricks to secure uniform vertical joints; 1

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 2 of the modification of Figures 5 and 5A; J Figure 8 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 3, taken on the line 88 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a screed or striker to be used with the form of device shown in Figures 7 and 8; and

Figure 10 illustrates the screed or striker of Figure 9 in use.

In Figure l I have shown in the course of contached to the inside of the face plate, as by welding or riveting. A piece of round bar or tubular stock is bent substantially at right angles forming a horizontal portion I3 and a vertical portion struction a brick wall which is nominally 8 inches in thickness. The bricks may be of any usual or preferred dimensions. A common form of building brick exhibits dimensions 2 x 3%" x 8". The lower horizontal course I is a course of bricks which have previously been laid in the usual staggered relation between the facing bricks and the bricks on the back. The facing bricks, i. e., the bricks in the outer layer of the wall, are laid end to end, and-so are the bricks on the inside of the wall, there being the usual .filling of mortar between bricks front and back and end to end, so that. each brick is embedded in mortar on five sides. The joints between the two rows are staggered. Obviously, a heading bond course may be employed at any'convenient level. The course I is completed, and is hereinafter referred to as a course previously laid or constructed. ,The partially completed course, or course underconstruction, shown at 2 is being laid on-top of. the previously laid course I with the joints offset, as indicated to provide stretching bond. In the operation of bricklaying, a course or part of a course is laid, and then the next course is undertaken. Hence, the problem of placing-the next brick-which we can visualize as brick number 3 in Figure 1 is to get it properly embedded in mortaron five sides, to get its exposed face into the plane of the rest of the wall and to get its upper face horizontal in the plane of. the top of the course being laid. For a heading bond course, the bricks are disposed crosswise of the plane of the wall, and are embedded in cement onl on four sides. The alignment of the front face and of the brick with the plane of the face of the wall and the location of the top surface of the brick at the right level is requisite.

The elementary form of device of my invention shown in Figure 1 as applied to the wall under construction comprises a face plate 4 which having a straight horizontal flange at its upper I4 toprovide a handle I 2 attached at l5 to the vertical part 9 of the reach, and thereby to the face plate 4, and at l5a to the horizontal part 8 of the reach, as by welding or the like. The inner end of the reach comprises a downwardlydirected clip or holding member [6, the end of which is flared outwardly, as indicated at H, which together with the flare on the flange 6 assists in the location of the device upon the course of bricks upon which it is guided. The distance between the clip l6 and the face plate 4 is the thickness of the wall to be laid. For the wall construction shown, this distance is 8". Obviously, for different masonry units or for different wall thickness, this distance is made to suit the need.

At the rear end, a reach I8 is connected to the face plate, and extends over the top of the bricks 2 in the course under construction. It has a flat bar [9 disposed horizontally and adapted to lie flat on top of the bricks 22 in the course under construction. This bar I9 is attached to the face plate 4 by an integral portion 20 extending downwardly at right angles to the horizontal portion l9 and lying outside of the web of the channel shaped face plate to which it is attached, the upper flange 5 being cut away to permit this location as illustrated in Figure l. A handle 22, formed of round bar or tubular stock, comprises a horizontal portion 23, and downwardly extending integral portions 24 and 25 attached as by welding or riveting at points 26 and 21 to the horizontal portion [9 of the reach. The reach has holding means in the shape of a downwardly extending clip 28 which is similar to the clip [6, the said clip 28 preferably having an outwardly flaring end 29 to facilitate the application of the device to the wall.

In initiating the laying of bricks on a foundation, the left hand end of the device as shown in Figure 1 may be rested upon the foundation with the clip l6 extending over the inner upper 'corner'of the same, and the wall may be begun by laying'the first few bricks thereof at a suitable part, such as a corner from which the course is to be extended. Now it is to be observed that the attachment of the horizontal plate 8 of the reach 1 is at a level which is lower than the position of the reach l8 by a distance which is equal to the vertical'height of a course, that is, a layer of mortar and a masonry unit or brick. Hence, to initiate operations on a base or foundation, involves the laying of only two or three bricks at the start, whereupon the device may begin to function.

If the cross sectional width of the foundation upon which the wall is to be erected is greater than the thickness of the wall, as is illustrated in Figure 4, the holding means, namely, the clip e l8 at the inner end of the strap 8, may be removed, and a substitute clip with a longer shank which will reach to the full width of the foundation indicated in dotted lines at 30 in Figure 5, may be employed.

Such adjustment by the provision of a number of different lengths of shanks 32 and a thumb screw '33 or like means to clamp the shank of the clip permits the application of the device to layingmasonry units on a foundation of width different from the width of the wall, and also allows for various sizes of masonry units to be laid into a wall. The same adjustment may be made as to the clip '28 at the rear reach.

Since there may be minor variations or inaccuracies at individual locations in the wall where itjis desired to place the device, the clips I628 on the reaches 1i8 may be positioned under spring tension such that the clip may be made to yield to receive an inaccuracy of excessive width.

A spirit level 35 may be disposed along the lower flange 6 and a transverse spirit level 36 disposed upon the reach member 8 may be employed to check the position of the working surfaces of the device, and thereby the bricks which are laid by the aid of it. It is to be understood that while I speak of laying bricks and describe certain of the operations involved in bricklaying, masonry units of any kind, such a In the use of the device shown in Figure 1 they first course of bricks may be started on the foundation, and the rear reach 48 disposed over the same while the front reach I is disposed over the top of the foundation. The face plate 4 should then have its top edge level and the horizontal parts of the reach 7 and 18 should be level, in the transverse direction, with the height of the reach 18, above the height of the reach I, by a distance which is that of one course of masonry units being laid, namely, the horizontal layer of mortar plus the height of the masonry unit to be laid in the wall.

Assume that the device is in the position shown in Figure 1, and the brick 3 is to be placed, the operator will first spread a layer of mortar horizontallyon the surface on which the brick 3 is to be deposited. Then he will deposit mortar on the end of the brick to fill at least the front part ofthe vertical gap between adjacent brick ends and place the brick 3 with its exposed face against the face plate, and he will set the same to the level of the flange 5, tamping the brick to the extent necessary to bring it to that level.

Now since the facing brick 3 of the wall is in proper alignment with its face in the vertical plane of the face of the wall, and with its upper edge at the right height and in line with the corners of the previously laid bricks in the course, the laying of the back bricks 3b will be facilitated, for it is easy to follow the laying of the front bricks known to be accurately located. The vertical joints may then be filled in the usual manner. The device may be moved forwardly at short steps or longer steps within the capacity of the device, but preferably it is moved forward a definite distance each time.

To advance thedevice, the operator grasps thehandl'es l222 and raises the device vertically. Then he moves it forward a definite distance to the left as viewed in Figure 1. If the face plate hasvertical beads 31 forming spacers between bricks these spacers cause the mortar joint to be indented or recessed, and in lowering the device in the advanced position it is neces sary to register the last one or two beads with the lastone or two mortar joints and lower the de-' vicein that position. That will insure uniform spacing of the bricks in respect to the vertical joints between blocks ina course.

As illustrated in Figures 5, 5A and 6 the face plate 4 may be provided with aseries of vertical beads 31 spaced-apart by the length of a masonry unit and providing proper joint width between adjacent facing units. This brings about a uniformity of the vertical mortar joints which is highly desirable. These beads 43- may be formed by pressing grooves into the sheet metal, or they may be applied as separate strips welded in place or otherwise. They extend down from the top edge'to' about the middle of the horizontal mortar joint. Hence, they offer no obstruction to lifting of the device vertically for the beads 31- merely slide in the grooves which they form. Likewise, in replacing the device in the advance position the beads 37 formed at the left hand or advance end form guides for the insertion of the beads 31 at the right hand or rear end of the device, so that the uniform'spacing is maintained.

When, as in Figures. 7 and 8., the device employs a back plate 4a similar beads may be provided on it, and the procedure of shifting remains the same.

InFigures 7 and 8 I have shown the device provided with a back plate 4a. which is in all essential respects like the face plate 4. In fact, either may be front or back as the case may be. The addition of the back plate 4a bringsabout certain other capabilities, namely, the ability to contain and control thethickness of the mortar bed laid on top of the course already laid. Also where the vertical beads are utilized on both the front and the back plate, the spacing of the bricks endwise on both front and back sides of the wall is predetermined. As illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 10, the two plates. 4 and 5a. embrace the course previously laid .and extend above the level of the. same by a distance which isequal to the. thickness of. a. horizontal mortar joint and a brickor other building unit. A suitable quantity of mortar may now be poured on the surface of the course I between the plates i and 4a, and the downwardly projecting part of the screed or striker 38 shown in Figure 9 is in.- troduced between the plates 4 and 4a, with the shoulders 39, 39 resting on the horizontal flanges 5 and 5a of the two plates with the depending portion it substantially filling the space between the plates and having its lower edge disposed above the bricks in the course I by a distance which represents the thickness of the horizontal mortar bed 42. Where the plate 4 and 4a are provided with the vertical or guiding beads 31, the distance X, as shown in Figure 9, will be slightly less than the thickness of the wall in order to clear the said projections, butthe vertical distance Y of the depending portion 40' will 'bethe same;

The bricks to be laid as a continuation of the course undercons tructibn will-. then be placed in the space between the side plates and with their exposed faces against the side plates. Where such guiding projections 3'! are provided, they suitably space the bricks to predetermine the exposed vertical joints. After the bricks are thus set upon the layer of mortar 42, additional mortar is poured on top of the bricks just laid, and is filled in to complete the central longitudinal joint and the vertical transverse joints, whereupon the excess may be struck off level with the flanges 5 and 5a of the side plates. The screed or striker may be employed in tamping down the bricks to the requisite level to register with the tops of the flanges 5 and 5a before such finishing of the vertical joints is effected. After the vertical joints are filled, and the excess mortar struck off, the device is lifted by the handles I2-22 in the vertical direction, is moved forward to the left as viewed in Figure 1, and isreplaced on the wall in register with the beads or projections 31 entering the last one or two grooves formed between the bricks previously laid in the course under construction. 7

In placing of the mortar for the layer 42, a bucket of predetermined size may be employed. since the distance which the device is advanced on each forward shift presents a predetermined volume to be filled. Likewise, for filling in the vertical joints a bucket of predetermined size may be employed by providing the necessary amount of mortar to be poured on top of the bricks just placed to fill such vertical joints.

The form of device employing both back and front plates as in Figures 7 and 8 with or without beads 31 may readily be used for starting the firstcourse upon the foundation.

The reaches I and 18 of Figures 1 to 4 and the corresponding reaches la and |8a of Figures 5 to are attached to the plate 4 at right angles to the face of the same. They lie in horizontal positions transversely across the top of bricks previously laid and sustain the vertical load of the device as a whole. They reach across the top of previously laid bricks and carry at their inner ends means for engagin'gthe vertical inside face of the bricks previously laid. This means may take the form of clips l6 and 28 as shown in connection with the form of device of Figures 1 to 4 or the form of an inner plate such as do shown in the form of Figures 5 to 10. Thereby the reaches take the vertical load, the horizontal load, and keep the guide plate 4 at the right height and in vertical position and with its upper edge horizontal. The space on the wall between these reaches is the working space within which a gang of bricks is laid into the wall under the guidance of the device.

The present device in its simple form does not give guidance to all of the acts of the bricklayer in constructing the wall, but it gives him such guidance as will materially expedite and simplify the work involved. It gives him the vertical face alignment of the facing bricks and the vertical height of the top faces of the bricks, an alignment of the upper outer corners, and a gauge of the proper thickness of the wall as it is laid. By the assistance of this device, a man of a lower order of competence in bricklaying may lay a satisfactory wall, or a highly skilled man is assisted in'his work to the extent that it is easier for him to lay up a definite schedule of bricks in a given time or to increase the output within that time over previous performance without the device.

In the more highly organized form of Figures 5 to 10, additional guidances are givento such an extent that substantially all of the acts of erecting a wall are guided. Hence, an unskilled person may perform bricklaying of good quality. The device of my invention may be applied to the laying of a wall nominally 4", i. e., the width of one brick, or to a wall of a multiple of 4".

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described, since modifications and variations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for facilitating the laying of masonry units into a wall, comprising the combination of an oblong face plate having a working face which is adapted to be disposed in a vertical plane and having a straight upper edge which is flanged substantially at right angles away from the working face to impart stiffness and which serves as a height gauge for masonry units to be laid into the course being currently laid, the lower margin of said face plate being adapted to extend along and engage a series of masonry units in the course previously laid, and the main body of said face plate extending above the units of a previously laid course by a distance substantially equal to the height of the course to be laid and its upper edge serving as a guide for locating the level of the tops of the facing units to be laid against it, a reach comiected to each end of the face plate extending across the top of the wall and holding means carried on said reaches and extending below the inner ends thereof for engaging the inner side of the wall to hold the face plate in position one of said reaches being disposed at substantially the upper edge of the plate whereby it is adapted to be supported upon the top of the bricks in the course being laid and the other reach being disposed at a level adjacent the lower edge of the plate whereby it is adapted to be supported upon the top of the course previously laid to hold the top edge of said plate horizontal.

2. In a device for facilitating the laying of masonry units into a wall, comprising the combination of an oblong face plate having a flat working face of a width in excess of the masonry units being laid, the upper edge of said plate being straight and adapted to be disposed horizontally in order to form a guide for the upper edges of the units to be laid in a course, a first transverse reach member connected to the plate adjacent one end thereof and having a supporting surface disposed horizontally substantially at the level of said upper edge of the plate, and a second transverse reach member attached adjacent the other end of the plate and having a supporting surface disposed horizontally substantially at a level below the top edge of the plate by the thickness of a course of masonry units to be laid, and holding means carried at the inner ends of said reaches and engaging on the inside surface of the wall for retaining the device in working position.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein each of the holding means comprises a downwardly extending member which is adapted to bear against the inner face of the previously laid masonry units.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the face plate has a substantially planar working face with vertically disposed ridges forming guides for spacing the units from each other on the face of the course, and for locating the device in a forward position by reference to the vertical edges of units tached to the face plate at its forward end and disposed at the level of the top surfacebf the previously laid course, and a reach comprising a mounting strap attached to said face plate at its rear end and disposed at the level of the top surface of the course being currently laid, said straps having downwardly extending clips to engage over the inner corners of the corresponding course, and handles on said mounting straps for shifting the position of the face plate along the Wall as the laying of acourse proceeds.

6. A device for facilitating the laying of masonry units into a wall comprising a pair of oblong face plates disposed in vertical parallel planes to embrace between their lower edges a course of units previously laid, a reach at one end connecting said plates and having means lying at a level adjacent the lower margins of the plates for supporting upon the course previously laid the adjacent end of the plates, and a reach at the other end of and connecting said plates and having means lying at a level adjacent the upper margins of said plates for supporting the adjacent end of the plates upon units previously laid in the course under construction, said reaches comprising handles.

'7. The device of claim 6 wherein each face plate has a horizontal outwardly extending flange at its upper edge and a flaring flange at its lower edge.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein one of said face plates has a plurality of vertical beads horizontally spaced to locate masonry units between them and being of a vertical length substantially equal to the height of a unit to be laid and extending substantially to the top edge of said plate.

9. In a device of the class described, an oblong plate of a length great enough to span at least a plurality of units laid in a wall, adapted to extend lengthwise of the wall and consisting of two functional portions, namely, an upper portion extending above a previously laid course of masonry units by a distance not substantially less than the vertical thickness of a masonry unit to be laid plus a horizontal mortar joint, and a lower portion extending below the upper edge of the previously laid course of units and being adapted to engage the outer face of the units of said previously laid course, whereby the plate is aligned with the vertical outer face of the wall being constructed, a forward reach connected to the plate and extending crosswise of the wall for holding the forward part of the plate in position, said forward reach being supported by the tops of the units laid in the previously laid course, and a rear reach connected to the plate and extending crosswise of the wall for holding the rear part of the plate in position, said reaches supporting the plate in substantially a vertical plane with the edges thereof level longitudinally, and means on the inner ends of said reaches adapted to engage the inner face of the wall for holding the plate against substantial lateral displacement said forward reach being disposed at a level below 1c the. level of, the rear reach by a distance substantially, equal to the height of a course of masonry units.

10; A. ,device for facilitating the laying of masonry units into a wall, comprising an oblong face plate which in use is supported in the vertical outer plane of the wall, said plate being of a width in excess of the height of a course of masonry units ,being-:laid, mean s for supporting saidplate in the plane of the wall and overlapping at its forward end the upper outer edge of the course previously laida'nd overlapping at its rear end the outer face of a unit previously laid in the course under construction, said means comprising a reach connected to the plate at the forward end of the device and adapted to extend crosswise of the wall at a point in advance of units laid in the course under construction, and having supporting means for engaging the tops of units laid in the previously laid course, and a reach connected to the plate at the rear end of the device and adapted to extend crosswise of the wall at a point where units have been laid in the course under construction, and having supporting means for engaging the tops of units previously laid in the course under construction, and means carried on the inner ends of the reaches for engaging the inner side of the wall to hold the plate against substantial lateral displacement said forward reach being disposed at a level below the level of the rear reach by a distance substantially equal to the height of a course of masonry units.

11. In a device of the class described, an oblong face plate adapted to be disposed against a portion of the outer face of the wall in vertical position, a reach connected to the plate at each end thereof, said reaches having supporting surfaces for supporting the device upon masonry units laid into the wall, the supporting means of one reach being disposed at a level above the level of supporting means of the other reach by a distance equal to the height of a course of masonry units being laid.

12. In the device of claim 11, a projection on the inside face of the plate adapted to register with the vertical edge of a unit previously laid in the course under construction.

13. In the device of claim 11, a series of projections on the inside face of the plate for registering the vertical edges of units to be laid into the wall.

14. A device of the class described, comprising a movable guide plate adapted to be supported on the wall in vertical position in substantially the outer plane of the wall, said guide plate being oblong and having parallel upper and lower edges, a reach at one end of the plate adapted to extend over and rest upon the top of a course of masonry units previously laid in the wall, a reach at the outer end of the plate adapted to extend over and rest upon bricks laid in the course under construction said reaches lying in horizontal planes parallel to the upper edge of the plate and being spaced apart by a vertical distance equal to the height of a course of masonry units, said reaches being connected at right angles to the plate and holding the plate against the vertical face of the wall with the rear end of the plate registering with the face of a unit laid in the course under construction and the forward part of the plate aligned with the face of units in the previously laid course, and the edges of the plate in parallel relation to the 11 12 upper edges of the units in the course previously UNITED STATES PATENTS laid, whereby additional units may be laid in the Number Name Date wall with their vertical faces aligned with the 715 946 Bennett 16, 1902 plane of the plate, and their outer longitudinal 8141926 Weiss Man 13, 1906 edges aligned by reference to one of the parallel 5 915 982 Maddux Man 23, 1909 edges the Plate- 1 oaosss Lake Dec. 9, 191a PAUL SOMMERS' 2,261,503 Morris Nov. 4, 1941 2,286,669 Carr June 16, 1942 REFERENCES CITED 2,395,438 Watkins Feb. 26, 1946 The following references are of record in the 19 2,433,613 Malthouse Man 30 1948 file of this patent: 2,466,919 Sykes Apr. 12, 1949 

